Cathay Pacific USA internet booking triggered foreign transaction fee
Sep 2, 2012, 12:58 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Greyhound Vermillion Mithril
Posts: 693
There is a LONG RUNNING thread in the Credit Card forum. Have you not know such forum exists? 
It is even a STICKY!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...tion-fees.html
It is even a STICKY!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...tion-fees.html
Sep 2, 2012, 1:51 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
sorry I wasn't clear. I am thinking more in terms of the vendor side, i.e. which airlines, hotels, online travel agents, etc. would charge you forex (at least for US people) under what situations (e.g. flights originate from outside of US) instead of which credit cards have no forex fees.
My neighbor purchased a pair of tickets from JetBlue for a trip that JetBlue MIA-JFK, then EI JFK-DUB-VIE. All marketed and sold by JetBlue, yet she was hit by 3% fores fee because EI processed the portion of tickets from its office.
She even has a C1 card to use for boot, but she uses her discover card or citi card I forgot which, but a 3% card.
Like I said before, the ONLY way to avoid this is to use the 0% forex card when in doubt.
Common themes seem to be US-based airlines for flights originating from outside US, in the case of DL. But I never read about AA has billing outside US for purchases made on AA site, for example. Hotels are really simple - the billing currency would readily tell you where the transaction is processed. OTA it depends. Expedia/Travelocity/Orbitz/Priceline/Booking.com should be no forex if going thru their US sites. Going thru their international sites, of course you are charged. Sometimes you would have to go thru the international sites to get the deals, be it a Expedia coupon or a particular mistake fare... Then you should know better that it would be 3% forex fee. Or if you book hotels from Wotif, Venere, Asia Room etc chances are they process their transactions outside US because they are foreign companies. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of travel providers out there that one may book service from.
Bottom line, it is simply an impossible task to assemble such a data base. Besides, it is really COMMON SENSE which would really be 95% correct in most cases.
Sep 3, 2012, 6:08 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Greyhound Vermillion Mithril
Posts: 693
There is no way to know because the charge stemmed from where the transaction is processed. How anyone would know where a company processed its transaction until after the fact?
My neighbor purchased a pair of tickets from JetBlue for a trip that JetBlue MIA-JFK, then EI JFK-DUB-VIE. All marketed and sold by JetBlue, yet she was hit by 3% fores fee because EI processed the portion of tickets from its office.
She even has a C1 card to use for boot, but she uses her discover card or citi card I forgot which, but a 3% card.
Like I said before, the ONLY way to avoid this is to use the 0% forex card when in doubt.
Common themes seem to be US-based airlines for flights originating from outside US, in the case of DL. But I never read about AA has billing outside US for purchases made on AA site, for example. Hotels are really simple - the billing currency would readily tell you where the transaction is processed. OTA it depends. Expedia/Travelocity/Orbitz/Priceline/Booking.com should be no forex if going thru their US sites. Going thru their international sites, of course you are charged. Sometimes you would have to go thru the international sites to get the deals, be it a Expedia coupon or a particular mistake fare... Then you should know better that it would be 3% forex fee. Or if you book hotels from Wotif, Venere, Asia Room etc chances are they process their transactions outside US because they are foreign companies. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of travel providers out there that one may book service from.
Bottom line, it is simply an impossible task to assemble such a data base. Besides, it is really COMMON SENSE which would really be 95% correct in most cases.
My neighbor purchased a pair of tickets from JetBlue for a trip that JetBlue MIA-JFK, then EI JFK-DUB-VIE. All marketed and sold by JetBlue, yet she was hit by 3% fores fee because EI processed the portion of tickets from its office.
She even has a C1 card to use for boot, but she uses her discover card or citi card I forgot which, but a 3% card.
Like I said before, the ONLY way to avoid this is to use the 0% forex card when in doubt.
Common themes seem to be US-based airlines for flights originating from outside US, in the case of DL. But I never read about AA has billing outside US for purchases made on AA site, for example. Hotels are really simple - the billing currency would readily tell you where the transaction is processed. OTA it depends. Expedia/Travelocity/Orbitz/Priceline/Booking.com should be no forex if going thru their US sites. Going thru their international sites, of course you are charged. Sometimes you would have to go thru the international sites to get the deals, be it a Expedia coupon or a particular mistake fare... Then you should know better that it would be 3% forex fee. Or if you book hotels from Wotif, Venere, Asia Room etc chances are they process their transactions outside US because they are foreign companies. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of travel providers out there that one may book service from.
Bottom line, it is simply an impossible task to assemble such a data base. Besides, it is really COMMON SENSE which would really be 95% correct in most cases.
Sep 3, 2012, 7:56 pm
#34
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Common themes seem to be US-based airlines for flights originating from outside US, in the case of DL. But I never read about AA has billing outside US for purchases made on AA site, for example. Hotels are really simple - the billing currency would readily tell you where the transaction is processed. OTA it depends. Expedia/Travelocity/Orbitz/Priceline/Booking.com should be no forex if going thru their US sites. Going thru their international sites, of course you are charged. Sometimes you would have to go thru the international sites to get the deals, be it a Expedia coupon or a particular mistake fare... Then you should know better that it would be 3% forex fee. Or if you book hotels from Wotif, Venere, Asia Room etc chances are they process their transactions outside US because they are foreign companies. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of travel providers out there that one may book service from.
In person purchase at card terminal: No foreign transaction fee
US local internet businesses: No foreign transaction fee
US airline on flights wholly in US: No foreign transaction fee (hopefully)
US hotel billing in USD: No foreign transaction fee (I won't be 100% sure about a foreign chain such as Accor billing in USD)
US online travel agent such as Expedia/Travelocity/Orbitz/Priceline/Booking.com billing in USD on US site: No foreign transaction fee
Paypal to US merchant: No foreign transaction fee
Non-US online travel agent: Foreign transaction fee may be applicable
Non-US airline: Foreign transaction fee may be applicable
Paypal to foreign merchant: Foreign transaction fee may be applicable
It does seem a foreign transaction fee-free card is needed for the last three categories of transactions. No USD miles earn can justify 3% in additional fees.
Sep 11, 2012, 5:48 pm
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 8
Although I disagree with the terminology I admit to being mistaken about Amex's fees on its own cards. Yes OP may get hit by foreign transaction fees on BA purchase even if denominated on USD - apologies.
In fact, it has happened to other FTers before: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-abroad.html#7
In fact, it has happened to other FTers before: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-abroad.html#7
Oct 30, 2012, 11:16 pm
#36
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Billed from CX in Lantau. Did you get a line detail like this from Citi?
xx/06/2012 CATHAY PACIFIC TICKETING HONG KONG HK HKD 712.41 DR USD 90.00 DR
(This is my MPO redemption list clearing fee, which I must pay in USD despite being a HK-based MPO member with a HKD credit card. When I paid with my CX HK Amex, it used to even say Lantau HK specifically).
xx/06/2012 CATHAY PACIFIC TICKETING HONG KONG HK HKD 712.41 DR USD 90.00 DR
(This is my MPO redemption list clearing fee, which I must pay in USD despite being a HK-based MPO member with a HKD credit card. When I paid with my CX HK Amex, it used to even say Lantau HK specifically).
"xx/10/2012. CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS - TSUEN WAN HK. HKD. 936.00.DR HKD. 936.00.DR"
I dunno whether this is another cost-saving move on CX's part but actually the rate (7.8, peg) is better than the rate I would otherwise get from the credit card company (around 7.92). I lose miles because it's not USD-denominated however.
Last edited by percysmith; Jun 5, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Nov 4, 2012, 12:28 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
So getting a card without FTF is good, only if you can find one.
Jun 3, 2014, 10:41 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 8
Foreign Transaction Fee on CX USA booking?
Hi. I am planning to book a flight from NYC to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific USA website. I have two credit cards: Amex Blue Cash and Chase Freedom. Will there be foreign transaction fees incurred?
Anyone has prior experience? Please help.
Anyone has prior experience? Please help.
Jun 3, 2014, 11:19 am
#40
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 316
i haven't made a direct booking on cx's site in a long time but know when transferring mileage from one acct to another i do get hit with a fx fee on my amex. best bet is to use a card that has no fx fees to make sure. i typically have my agent book all my cx flights which do not incurr the potential fx cc fees.
Jun 3, 2014, 2:07 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: CX Silver
Posts: 88
If you are booking a ticket that originates from the US, there shouldn't be any FX fees as the ticket will be in USD. However, if you book a ticket originating from a foreign country, it will be ticketed in the local currency. If you don't have a card that has a $0 foreign exchange fee, then there will be one. I believe on Cathay's website, if you use a Visa/Mastercard, it offers to bill you in USD for a % fee. Last I check I think it's close to 3%.
Jun 3, 2014, 2:24 pm
#42
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: SPG GL, AA GL
Posts: 2,591
I'm pretty sure I was charged transaction fee when I booked on CX.com (not CXUSA.com) couple years back, using my SPG Amex. I don't know if the USA website would have made a difference. I now always use one that doesn't charge exchange fee.
Jun 3, 2014, 6:46 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: San Francisco , CA
Programs: Marco Polo Club; Asia Miles
Posts: 208
There is no "fees" if your eTicket is purchased from 'Cathay Pacific USA website' and using an US Bank Credit Card. I do that all the time........
Jun 5, 2014, 9:35 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Jun 5, 2014, 12:08 pm
#45
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Because I've a 2012 post that suggests Cathay Pacific USA's website *does* trigger a FTF charge http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...ction-fee.html
And I've a recent USD charge from CX in HK (USD denominated card) - asiamiles.com transaction not CX USA website; however this proves they can still charge USD out of HK if they want to:
Post Date Transaction Date Description Foreign Currency Amount Amount (USD)
10 Apr 2014 07 Apr 2014 SALES: CATHAYPACAIR 1010 HONG KONG HK 90.00
Last edited by percysmith; Jun 5, 2014 at 12:19 pm